Toasty winter cocktails

Woodford Reserve has developed into a highly acclaimed award-winning bourbon brand, bearing testament to the care that goes into each bottle. Check out these must-try cocktails that will have your patrons coming back for more.

Mint Julep

The Mint Julep is the iconic bourbon cocktail. Refreshing and easy to make, here’s how to create the perfect Mint Julep served with the super-premium, small-batch craft bourbon.

Handful mint leaves

15ml simple syrup or sugar

30ml Woodford Reserve

Add a small handful of mint leaves to a tall Collins glass. Muddle the mixture until the mint becomes fragrant. (Bartender’s tip: A common mistake is to over-muddle the mint leaves until they are shredded, and the crushed veins and stems release a bitter flavour. Once you can clearly smell the mint, you’re done muddling.) Fill the glass with crushed ice and add the Woodford Reserve. Garnish with mint leaves and serve.

The Classic Old Fashioned

Quick, simple and easy are three words to describe The Classic Old Fashioned by the super-premium, small-batch craft bourbon.

50 ml Woodford Reserve bourbon

1tsp brown sugar

2 dashes bitters

Orange zest garnish

Add sugar, bitters, and 25ml Woodford Reserve into a mixing glass and half fill with ice. Stir well and add 25 ml Woodford Reserve and fill with ice. Stir well and strain into a tumbler glass filled with ice. Garnish with fresh orange zest.

Woodford Whiskey Sour

Here’s how to create the perfect Whiskey Sour to serve with the super-premium, small-batch craft bourbon.

60ml Woodford Reserve

15ml simple syrup

25ml lemon juice

Add the ingredients to a shaker tin. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry

With a rich history dating back more than 300 years, it stands to reason that brandy has been used in many a vintage cocktail. But thanks to Kurt Schlechter, innovative mixologist and owner of the brandy-centric experiential cocktail kitchen, Cause Effect, in Cape Town, the spirit is firmly back in the spotlight. Grab one of South Africa’s finest potstill brandies, Klipdrift Gold, and get shaking!

Klipdrift Gold Serenity Cocktail

Ingredients

50ml orange juice 

25ml vermouth bianco

10ml lemon juice 

15ml Triple Sec orange liqueur

25ml Klipdrift gold 

2 dashes fynbos bitters

Shake and strain the ingredients, and serve in a tall glass.